Five area member contractors recognized as exemplary safety leaders
Jane Gimler
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Southeast Texas Chapter recently announced six member companies won six National Excellence in Construction awards presented during ABC Convention 2025 in Las Vegas.
ABC recognized 96 of the nation’s top construction projects from 2024, including upgrades and renovations to hospitals and constructing hydraulic stations, sports complexes, government buildings and airports.
“These award-winning projects showcase the dedication, skill, and excellence that define ABC Southeast Texas Chapter members,” said Jane Gimler, president and CEO of ABC Southeast Texas Chapter. “’Their ability to overcome challenges, deliver high quality work and uphold the highest standards in our industry is truly inspiring. We celebrate their achievements and their contribution to building a stronger, safer and more innovative future for construction. From industrial advancements to critical infrastructure, these projects stand as a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship and expertise within our chapter.”
The EIC awards honor every member of the construction team, including the contractor, owner, architect and engineer. The winning projects are judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, innovation and safety.
“These projects are the epitome of excellence in construction, demonstrating quality, health, safety and innovation in our industry,” said 2025 Chair of the ABC National Board of Directors David Pugh, partner, Bradley, Birmingham, Alabama. “These six industry-leading projects completed by members of ABC Southeast Texas Chapter show how members of ABC build projects safely, on time and on budget.”
National Excellence in Construction Eagle Award winners were:
• EXCEL Group: Linde TSMC Semiconductor, Industrial more than $25 to $50 million, Phoenix.
• Performance Contractors Inc.: Total Energies 2024 SM Turnaround Project, Industrial up to $10 million, Carville Louisiana.
National Excellence in Construction Pyramid Award winners were
• Holes Inc: Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal 25 Improvements, Specialty Construction: Commercial up to $3 million, Galveston.
• SR Trident Inc.: A.D. Powers Bayfront Park Seawall Restoration Project, Federal Government/Military up to $15 million, Seadrift, Texas.
• Group Contractors LLC —Energy Transfer Partners/S&B Engineers and Constructors Flexport Project, Specialty Construction: Industrial more than $10 million, Nederland.
• Performance Contractors Inc.: Exxon Baytown Olefins Plant 2X Furnace Retrofit TA Program, Industrial up to $10 million, Baytown.
A panel of industry experts served as the competition’s judges. This year’s judges included representatives from Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Design-Build Institute of America, Engineering News-Record, Construction Owners Association of America, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Building Sciences, the Smithsonian Institution and other select construction-related organizations nationwide.
Exemplary safety leaders
Five ABC Southeast Texas Chapter member companies were also honored with a 2024 National Safety Excellence Award for their remarkable achievements in leadership, innovation, health and safety at the annual convention.
The five members contractors recognized were:
• S&B Engineers and Constructors Ltd. won an award for Heavy and Civil Engineering Contractors.
• Spawglass Contractors Inc. won an Excellence Award for General Contractors.
• Apache Industrial Services won an Excellence Award for Specialty Contractors.
• Alliance Industrial Group LLC won a Merit Award for General Contractors.
• SR Trident won a Merit Award for Heavy and Civil Engineering Contractors.
The 2024 National Safety Excellence Award winners were selected from ABC member firms that achieved Diamond, Platinum or Gold status in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System in 2024, reflective of their 2023 safety performance data. During the selection process, contractors were judged on self-evaluation scores, lost workday case rates, total recordable incident rates, leading indicator use, process and program innovations and interviews conducted by members of ABC’s National Health and Safety Committee.
“Construction companies that exhibit an unrelenting commitment to jobsite safety should be celebrated and honored,” said Pugh.
He noted the companies recognized “make a choice” every day to create a culture that refuses to compromise on safety, relentlessly ensuring every employee leaves the jobsite in the same or better condition every day.
The National Safety Excellence Awards are presented in three major North American Industry Classification System code categories: NAICS 236 – Construction of Buildings; NAICS 237 – Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction; and NAICS 238—Specialty Trade Contractors.
STEP provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry which enables top performing ABC members to achieve incident rates 576% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average. The self-assessment tool helps participants identify real opportunities for scalable growth in their safety programs to lower their total recordable incident rates.
CNA, ABC’s longest-standing strategic partner, is the presenting sponsor of the National Safety Excellence Awards. CNA’s dedicated construction team delivers a deep understanding, attentive approach and carefully tailored solutions that help contractors navigate unique and evolving exposures.
— Dannie Oliveaux
